Long Road Ahead For Coal Creek Canyon Residents

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) – Recovering from the Colorado floods will create a building boom and Coal Creek Canyon in Jefferson County will need a lot of repairs.

Some residents in Coal Creek Canyon say it’s the forgotten canyon ravaged by floods but getting no attention and little help.

Bill Eilers has lived there 25 years. For the first time ever he can’t see his house and he can’t drive to his home. Around every bend the story and the sights get worse.

“I hope this doesn’t happen again,” Rob Reiboldt said.

(credit: CBS)

Reiboldt’s 82-year-old mother has a ladder as a makeshift bridge and she’s not budging from her home.

“I’m just concerned about their welfare when the weather turns or they run out of food,” Sgt. Dave Baldwin with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department said.

Baldwin works and lives in Coal Creek Canyon. Residents have no way in or out of much of the area, so it will be his job to rescue anyone in trouble.

“It’s tough. These are friends and it’s a community up here,” Baldwin said.

There are displaced culverts and damaged gas pipes. The road looks like it could continue to crumble. County crews are there helping but some predict it may be months and months before some residents are allowed back in.

“If I can get across the creek and hire a contractor we can get up to the house, but it’s going to be a lot of work,” a resident said.